Congress sent a sweeping Russia sanctions bill honoring the late Sen. Lindsey Graham to President Donald Trump’s desk on Wednesday. The legislation passed the House 262 to 159, authorizing up to 100 percent tariffs on major Russian energy buyers while sparking sharp debate over presidential authority and consumer costs.
The package represents the most ambitious legislative push to support Ukraine since Trump returned to the White House, breaking nearly two years of gridlock following a 2024 emergency aid package, according to reporting from the Associated Press. Lawmakers passed the measure in a 262 to 159 vote on the final day the lower chamber is in session before legislators depart Washington ahead of Election Day.
Tariff Authorities and Energy Importers Under the New Law
At the center of the legislation is a mechanism designed to choke off the oil and gas revenue funding Russia’s military operations. The bill permits the president to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on the top five purchasers of Russian crude oil or natural gas. Countries that import less than 15 percent of their natural gas from Russia and demonstrate significant steps to reduce those purchases receive an exemption.
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Data compiled by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air identifies China and India as the largest buyers of Russian crude oil. European nations historically served as Russia’s primary natural gas customers, though the European Union has sharply reduced its imports in recent years while sales to China climbed.
The sources do not contain a statement from the Indian government regarding energy security or diversified sourcing.
In addition to the energy restrictions targeting Moscow, the package extends existing sanctions on Iran’s energy and weapons sectors for five years, a provision added at the direct request of President Trump.
Bipartisan Divisions and Debate Over Presidential Power
While the legislation ultimately secured a comfortable 262-159 margin, it exposed deep fractures within both political parties. Fifty-eight House Democrats crossed party lines to support the measure, joining the majority of Republicans. Conversely, seven Republicans voted against the package, reflecting ongoing debates within the GOP regarding the scope of foreign aid and intervention.
Democratic leadership fiercely opposed the bill’s current framework, arguing that the broad tariff provisions lacked necessary oversight.
“This bill would dramatically expand presidential tariff authorities while failing to mandate sanctions on Russia, both of which are unacceptable. These flaws would raise Americans’ prices while undermining support for Ukraine in the long term.”
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Rep. Gregory Meeks, Rep. Don Beyer, and Rep. Richard Neal, via CBS News
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar issued a joint statement arguing that President Trump cannot be trusted with new powers that could increase financial burdens on American families.
Supporters countered that traditional sanctions alone are easily circumvented, whereas tariff penalties offer immediate economic leverage. Republican Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas argued on the House floor that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s team made clear that nations can evade standard sanctions, but tariffs provide the necessary teeth.
“When we look back at this moment in time, I want to be able to say that we used all the tools available to end this war, that we understood the threat, that we had the courage to do what was right, to stand up, to cripple the Russian war machine and turn the tide toward peace.”
The legislation carries profound personal and political significance, named explicitly after the late Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. Graham spent more than a year negotiating the terms of the package before his sudden death in July, which occurred shortly after he returned from a trip to Kyiv where he announced a breakthrough agreement with the White House.
Trump Tariffs LIVE: US House Passes Russia-Iran Sanctions Bill | NewsX
The Senate previously passed the legislation in August by an overwhelming 86-11 bipartisan vote. Following the House’s action on Wednesday, a White House official confirmed that President Trump intends to sign the measure into law.
